Learning about the importance of Arbor Day in the classroom is one thing, but experiencing it firsthand is quite another.

Just ask students from Lehighton Area Middle School, who teamed up with members of the Lehighton Shade Tree Commission to plant trees in the Community Grove on Friday.The project is part of the borough's initiative to plant 150 trees in honor of its upcoming sesquicentennial celebration.Under the direction of middle school science teacher Joe Yescavage, the students helped the commission plant eight white oak trees within the grove.Additionally, 200 seedlings were given away to the students.The borough has also been recognized as a Tree City USA for the 23rd year in a row, according to Mark Hoffman, chairman of the Lehighton Shade Tree Commission."The day was a huge success, with both Joe Yescavage and me agreeing we are going to look to conduct future Arbor Day celebrations either at the Grove next year, or perhaps some other borough property," Hoffman said. "It was the perfect opportunity to reinforce all the good things happening within the borough, as well as within the schools."Yescavage said about 200 middle school students observed the event in the Community Grove."It's something that they all look forward to," Yescavage said.While he was busy digging a hole, seventh-grader Garrett Weaver explained why he was so eager to participate."It's fun," Garrett said. "And I'm not in school."Hoffman said some of the mature white oaks within the grove are more than 100 years old, and about 10 have been identified as having to be removed within the next few years.He said PPL donated $500 toward the "Be a Rock in Your Community" campaign. The bulk of the money raised from the campaign will help pay for the "memorial tree" that will hang in borough hall, Hoffman said. The tree will have brass leaves engraved with the names of those who donated toward the 150 trees for 150 years initiative."We look forward to planting the 149th and 150th tree on the first day and last day of the sesquicentennial celebration," Hoffman said.Other areas planted within the borough included Baer Memorial Park, below the recreation center, within the Grove and along many of the streets in the borough.The trees planted included various varieties of oaks, dogwoods, Cleveland pears, red maples, and white maples.Hoffman said 148 of the 150 trees were donated in honor or memory of a loved one.The 149th tree will be in honor and memory of prior, as well as current, residents of the borough, while the 150th tree will be in honor of the future residents of the town, he said.